Refrigerating apparatus



April 10, 1934. i ||v F, SMlTH 1,954,148

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed. Jan. 5l, 1930 3 SheetS-Sheet l RNEYS April1o,1934`. H, F, SMITH 1,954,148

I REFRIGERATING APPARATUS F11ed Jari. 51, 1930 :s sheets-sheet 2 BY B z ATTO EYJ April 10, 1934. H, F. SMITH I 1,954,148

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Jn. 3l, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 @Zea-5 g/7 Q w01* BY gg i ATT RNEYS Patented Apr. 10, 1934 REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Harry F. Smith, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to Frigidaire Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application January 31, 1930, Serial No. 425,008

21 Claims. (Cl. (i2- 115) This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and hasfor one of its objects to provide a heat exchange volatile refrigerant system which is adapted to circulate the refrigerant without the usual compressing mechanism and which in so operating does not require any of the refrigerant lines to be thermally insulated in order to maintain the circulating liquid refrigerant at low temperatures. f

Another object of this invention is to provide a refrigerating system which takes advantage. of low atmospheric temperatures to obtain refrigeration therefrom and which automatically and mechanically provides refrigeration when atmos-A pheric temperatures rise.

Further objects and advantages of the presy ent invention are apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is In the drawings: Fig. l is a vertical cross-sectional view,somewhat diagrammatic, of a refrigerating apparatus, embodying features of this invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are vertical cross-sectional views of portions of the system shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional View, somewhat diagrammatic, of a modification'of a portion of Fig. 1.

-Heretofore volatile refrigerant circulatingsystems have been provided without the use of a compressor or the like, in which a volatile reclearly shown.

frigerant is condensed and travels to an evap- ,e a system with liquid refrigerant lines of any desired length and in which the liquid refrigerant is permitted to have its vapor pressure raised to correspond yto the temperature of the medium through which the liquid refrigerant line travels.

According to my invention it is not necessary to retain the entire system under low vapor pressure corresponding to the vapor pressures of the refrigerant in the condenser; but on the other hand my system includes a relatively high vapor pressure side, in which the liquid refrigerant is transported from the condenser to the evapo- This trap may be insulated by insulation 24a. The

rator at a relatively warm temperature,` and the system also includes a relatively low vapor pressure side which includes the evaporator and the condenser as well as the evaporated refrigerant line (if one is used). By this arrangement the necessity for insulating the liquid refrigerant line is partly or wholly avoided to the extent desired.

To this end, a refrigerating system embodying features of this invention includes a high vapor pressure side and a low vapor pressure side of a closed refrigerant circuit. Refrigerant may ow in a closed path through said closed circuit and may be caused to circulate in condensed and evaporated form without the use of the usual pumping mechanism. For this purpose, the low vapor pressure side may .include one or more evaporators 20, 21 or 22 and a condenser 23. TheI high vapor pressure side may include means for transporting the condensed refrigerant to ,the evaporator or evaporators. I

Means for transferring liquid refrigerant from the low vapor pressure side to the high Vapor pressure side Without the use of pumping mechanism of the usual type is provided. This means may make use of gravitational forces for this purpose. For instance, a trap' 24 may be provided for transferring liquidrefrigerant condensed by the condenser 23 under relatively low vapor pressure to the high vapor pressure side of the system.

liquid refrigerant may be transferred to a portion o f the high vapor pressure liquid refrigerant line 25 and preferably it may be transferred to a liquid refrigerant receiver 26 forming a part of the high vapor pressure liquid refrigerant line 25. The temperatures of the refrigerant in receiver 26 and in the line 25 are equalized by return line 25a. The trap 24 may be provided with valve means 27 for connecting the trap selectively either with the condenser 23 or with the highvapor pressure side of the system. The valve means 27 may be float controlled. Thus the oat 28 may be connected by means of the snap acting mechanism 29 with the valve rod 30. The vertical movement of the float 28 is thus adapted to seat the rod 30 alternately 100 on the valve seats 3l and 32 which are connected respectively with the condenser 23 and the receiver26. `The snap acting mechanism 29 may include a rigidly held pivot rod 29a carrying the arm 29h of the float 28. A connecting pin 29e is keyed in 105 which is pivotally supported on links 30a which, I

in turn, are pivoted on rigid rods 30h.

` closed in the patent to R. G. Osborn, No. 1,556,708,

patented October 13, 1925 so that the oat controlled valve v(not shown) in each evaporator 20 may be connected by means of either branch 33 -with the liquid refrigerant line 25'. The evaporated refrigerant in the evaporators 20 may be conveyed by means of the branches 34 to the evaporated refrigerant line 35 leading back to the condenser 23. The evaporator 21 may be of expansion valve type. The liquid refrigerant passing through the branch 40 may have its pressure reduced by valve 36, may then pass through the coils 21a wound around the ice tray sleeves 2lb and may then pass through the branch 41 to the line 35. The evaporator 21 may be maintained in a flooded condition by providing a thermostatic bulb 36a responsive to the temperature of the refrigerant leaving the evaporator and maintaining the zone of refrigeration within the evaporator 21. The evaporator 22 may be of the type disclosed in the application of Harry F. Smith,v

Serial No. 367,158, led May 30, 1929. The evaporator 22 is provided with a float controlled valve somewhat similar to the float controlled valves shown in the patent vto Osborn, heretofore referred to. The` evaporator 22 may be connected by means of the branch 42 with the liquid refrigerant line 25 and by means of the branch 43 with the evaporated refrigerant line 35.

The condenser 23 may be -cooled by any suitable means and preferably it may be cooled by a mechanically operated refrigerating system of the compressor or absorption type generally designated as 45, the compressor type being hereinafter more fully described. The evaporator 46 of thesystem 45 is adapted to cool the condenser 43 of the rst described refrigerating system.

The rst described refrigerating system is adapted to operate asfollows. Refrigerant is condensed in thel condenser 23 and drains to the trap 24 untilv-such a time as the float 28 snaps the valvey 30 to close the-valve seat 31 and to open thew'alve seat 32. When this occurs the liquid refrigerant in thetrap 24 flows into the receiver 26 until such\a time as the float 28 snaps the valve rod 30 down to close the valve seat 32 and 'open the valve seat 31. This operation is repeated as long as suicient refrigerant is condensed in the condenser 23. The liquid refrigerant in the receiver 26 flows through `the line 25 and through any or all ofthe branches 33, 41 or 42 to any or all of the evaporators 20, 21 or 22. In flowing through the line 25, the liquid refrigerant is generally warmed, for instance to the temperature lis evaporated and is returned through any one vapor pressure liquid refrigerant line 25 it is to be. seen that the liquid refrigerant condensed under low vapor pressure in the condenser 23 is transferred to the high vapor pressure liquid refrigerant side of the system without the use of the usual pumping mechanism with the aid of gravitational forces. This provides a system for transporting refrigeration from the condenser 23 to the evaporators 20, 21 or 22 with relatively small thermal losses.

lmeans of the metallic bellows 51l which is adapted to actuate the valve stem 52 in response to the pressure in said evaporators. Suitable adjusting means 53 may be provided for adjusting the tension on the spring 54 to thus varythe pressure -to which the valve 50 is responsive.

When the foregoing type of system, or any other type of refrigerating system is used which is provided with a heat absorber, or evaporator,

andI a heat dissipator or condenser in thermal exchange, or refrigerant circulating relationship, I may also make use of low atmospheric temperatures, when they occur, either to replace or to augment the primary refrigerating system 45, so as to remove the necessity of operating the primary system 45, with its consequent electric or fuel consumption, during such periods of low atmospheric temperatures. To this end I provide an atmospheric heat exchange device, or condenser, in thermal contact with one of the refrigerating systems and preferably place a condenser in refrigerant circulating relationship with the heat absorber or evaporator, so that said atmospheric condenser removes heat from the evapa certain value and so construct the apparatus, that the atmospheric condenser cannot introduce heat into the evaporator when atmospheric temperatures rise above such value. The structure may be arranged to accomplish this purpose automatically. Thus an atmospherically cooled device or condenser 56 may be placed in parallel relation with condenser 23, sufliciently elevated from the trap 24 so that no liquid refrigerant flows either from the trap 24 or the condenser 23 into the condenser 56. Whenever the atmospheric temperature equals or falls below the temperature of the condenser 23, (which is maintained automatically at a predetermined value by system 45) part or all of the refrigerant is condensed by condenser 56; but when the atmospheric temperature rises above the temperature of condenser 33, the condenser 56 is automatically isolated from the system by the gaseous refrigerant inthe condenser 56.

The primary refrigerating system 45 may be used to cool the condenser 23 with or without the aid of the condenser 56. The refrigerating system 45 may include a refrigerant liquefying unit of the compressor or absorption type generally designated at60 and the evaporator 46 heretofore described. Thus the refrigerant liquefying unit 60 may include a compressor 61 delivering compressed refrigerant to a condenser 62 from whence the refrigerant flows to the liquid refrigerant receiver 63. The refrigerant from thence flows to the evaporator 46 through the pipe 64 and through the pressure reducing valve orator when atmospheric temperatures fall below 65. The condenser 23 and the evaporator 46 may 150 V embodiment, a thermostatic bulb 68, on the tank 66, may be connected by the line 69 .with the snap switch 70 which starts and stops the electric motor 71 drivingly connected to the compressor 6-1, for instance, by means of the belt 72.

If the condenser 56 is used, the snap switch 70 may be so adjusted that it prevents the motor 71 from running Whenever the condenser 56 is operating below the heretofore described atmospheric temperature, but the setting is such that the system 45 operates when the condenser 56 is disconnected. rIf the condenser 56 is not used, the refrigerating system 45 performs the entire condensing operations by maintaining the condenser 23 at the proper temperature.

Preferably the .tank 66 is lled with a freezable solution so that ice is formed around the coils of the evaporator 46 and the condenser 23, which ice serves as a hold-over during the period of idleness of the motor 71.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4 the evaporator 46a is provided with a slightly different refrigerant pressure reducing means. Ihus it may be provided with aheader provided with a float controlled valve (not shown) of the type disclosed in the patent to Osborn heretofore referred to. In this modification the compressor 61 delivers refrigerant to the condenser 62 and from thence to the liquid refrigerantreceiver 63. 'Ihe liquid refrigerant from thence flows through the pipe 64 to the header 80 where the pressure is reduced, and the evaporated refrigerant returns through the pipe 81 to the compressor 61. 'Ihe header 80 may be provided with one ormore depending ducts 80a in direct contact with the condenser 23a` similar to the condenser 23 of Fig. l. In

this modification the motor 71 may be controlled by a bellows 82 connected by the branch 83 with the line 81. The bellows 82 operates a snap switch 70 for starting and stopping the motor 71.

In this modification', the other parts correspond.

to those showndn Fig. 1 and operate in substantially the same manner. The condenser 23a is connected to one or more evaporators and a trap substantially as shown in Fig. 1.

The refrigerating system including the evaporators 20, 21 and22 and the condenser 23 may be provided with any volatile refrigerant, such as SO2, CHaCl, CFzClz, and need not have any 1ubricant added thereto. 'I'he refrigerating system 45 shown inl Fig. 1 or the vcompressor system shown in Fig. 6 may be provided with any suitable refrigerant and accompanying lubricant, such as SO2, CHxCl or CFzClz with any suitable oil.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow. What is claimed is as follows:

l. A refrigerating system including means for maintaining a high vapor pressure side and a lowv 2. A refrigerating' system including means" for maintaining a high vapor presure side and a 4low vapor pressure side, said 10W vapor pressure side including an evaporator and a condenser, and means for. transferring liquid refrigerant from said low vapor pressure side to said high vapor pressure side by gravity.

3. A refrigerating system including a high pressure side and a low pressure side, said low pressure said high pressure 5. A refrigerating system comprisinga condenser, an evaporator below said condenser, liquid and evaporated refrigerant lines between said condenser and evaporator, a pressure reducing valve for said evaporator and a trap in said liquid refrigerant line for moving liquid refrigerant 11n- 'der relatively low vapor pressure from said condenser to a high vapor pressure part of the liquid y refrigerant line. y

`6. A refrigerating system including means for maintaining a high vapor pressure side and a low vapor pressure side, said lowvapor pressure side.

for transferring liquid refrigerant from said lo-W vapor pressure side to said high vapor pressure side, and another refrigerating system for Vcooling said condenser. e

7. A refrigerating system including means for maintaining a high vapor pressure side and a low vapor pressure side, said low vapor pressure side including an evaporator and a condenser, means for transferring liquid refrigerant from said low vapor pressure side to said high vapor pressure side by gravity, and another refrigerating sys-v tem for cooling said condenser.

A 8. A refrigerating system including a high pressure side and a low pressure side, said low pressure side including an evaporator and a condenser, a trap provided with valve means for connecting said trap selectively either with said condenser or with said high pressure side,vand another refrigerating system for cooling said condenser.`

9. A refrigerating system including a high pressure side and a low pressure side, said low pressure side including an evaporatory and a condenser, a trap provided with float controlled valve means for connecting said trap selectively either with said condenser 'or with said high pressure side, and another refrigerating system for coollng said condenser.

10. A refrigerating system comprising a condenser, an evaporator below said condenser, liqfor transferring liquid refrigerant from said low Aincluding an evaporator and acondenser, means vapor pressure side to said high vapor pressure side, a second refrigerating system for cooling said condenser, and an atmospherically cooled condenser provided with means for connection with said rst named refrigerating system when the temperature of the atmosphere reaches a predetermined limit.

12. A refrigerating systemincluding means for maintaining a high vapor pressure side and a low vapor pressure side, said low vapor pressure side including an evaporator and a condenser, means fortransferring liquid refrigerant from said low vapor pressure side 'to said high vapor pressure side by gravity, a second refrigerating system for cooling said condenser, and an atmospherically cooled condenser provided with means of connection with said first named refrigerating system when the temperature vof the atmosphere reaches'a predetermined limit.

13. A refrigerating system including means for maintaining a highA vapor pressure side .and a low vapor pressure side, said low vapor pressure side including an evaporator and a condenser, a trap provided with valve means for connecting said trap selectively either with said condenser or with said high pressureside, a second refrigerating system for cooling'said condenser, and an atmos- -pherically cooled condenser provided with means of connection with said first named refrigerating system when the temperature of the atmosphere reaches a predetermined limit.

14. A refrigerating system including means for maintaining a high vapor pressure side and a low vapor pressure side,`said low vapory pressure side including an evaporator and a condenser, a, trap provided with float controlled valve means for connecting said trap selectively either with said condenser or with said high vapor pressure side, a second refrigerating system for cooling said condenser, and an atniospherically cooled condenser provided with means of connectiondwith said flrstnamed refrigerating system when the temperature of the atmosphere reaches a predetermined limit.A l

15. A refrigerating system comprising a condenser, an evaporator below said condenser, liquid and evaporated refrigerant lines between .saidr condenser and evaporator, a pressure reducingY valve for said evaporator and a trap in said -liquid refrigerant line for moving liquid refrigerant under relatively low vapor pressure from saidv condenser to a high vapor ,pressure part of the liquid refrigerant line, a second refrigerating system for cooling said condenser, and an atmoscondenserl provided with means of connection with said rst named refrigerating system when the temperature of the. atmosphere reaches a predetermined limit.

`16. A refrigerating system in maintaining a high vapor pressure side and a low vapor pressure side, said low vapor' pressureside including an evaporator and a condenser, means for transferring liquid refrigerant from saidlow vapor pressure side to said high vapor pressure side, a second. refrigerating system for cooling said condenser, an latmospherically cooled condenser provided with automatic means of connection with said first-named refrigerating system when the temperature of the atmosphere is at least as low as the temperature of ,said firstv named condenser, and means for automatically stopping the operation of\ said second named refrigerating system while said atmospherically cooled condenser is in operative connection with said first' named refrigerating system.

luding means for.

17. A refrigerating system including means for maintaining a high vapor pressure side and a low vapor pressure side, said low vapor pressure side including an evaporator and a condenser, means for transferring liquid refrigerant from said low vapor pressure side to said high vapor pressure side, a second refrigerating system for cooling said condenser, said second refrigerating system including an evaporator and means for automatically maintaining said last named evapora,- tor at a substantially constant temperature.

18. A refrigerating system including means for maintaining a high vapor pressure side and a low vapor pressure side, said low vapor pressure side including an evaporator and a condenser, means for transferring liquid refrigerant from said low vapor pressure side to said high vapor pressure side, a second refrigerating system for cooling said condenser, said second refrigerating system including an evaporator, a refrigerant liquefying unit for circulating and liquefying refrigerant passing through said last named evaporator, and means for automatically controlling said second refrigerating system to maintain said last named evaporator at a substantially constant temperature.

19. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a secondary refrigerating system including ka heat absorber and a heat dissipator in thermal exchange relationship, a primary refrigerating system in thermal exchange with saidheat dissipator, an atmospheric heat exchange device in thermal contact with one of said systems, and means for causing said atmospheric heat exchange ydevice lto remove heat relatively freely from said last named system when atmospheric temperatures are below a predetermined temperature and for retarding said atmospheric heat exchange de-4 vice from introducing heat into said last named relationship, a primary refrigerating system in thermal exchange with said condenser, an atmospheric heat exchange device in thermal contact withone of said systems, and means for causing said atmospheric heat exchange device to remove heat relatively freely from said ,last named system when atmospheric temperatures are below a predetermind temperature and for vretarding said atmospheric heat exchange device from introducing heat into said last named system when the atmospheric temperature is above .saidl predetermined temperature.

21. A refrigeratingapparatus comprising a secondary refrigeratingv system including an ,evaporator and a condenser in refrigerant circulating relationship, a primary refrigerating system in thermal exchange with said condenser, anatmospheric condenser in-refrigerant circulating relationship with said evaporator,V and meanscausing said atmospheric condenser to remove heat from'said evaporator when the atmosp'heric temperature falls below a predetermined temperature and to retard said atmospheric condenser from introducing heat into said evaporator when the atmospheric temperature rises above said predetermined temperature.

HARRY F. SMITH. 

